All the races at Ayr on
Tuesday will be run on the hurdle course, but that shouldn’t stop
Brandon Castle from cocking a snook at the handicapper in the
William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap (4.00). The Dylan Thomas
gelding has been a revelation since joining Archie Watson in July,
winning four of his five starts for his new yard, and readily defied
a 10lb rise in the weights when making all to win by 15 lengths,
unchallenged, at Chester on Saturday. He’d won his previous start
at Catterick by 11 lengths in similar fashion and, in his current
mood, should make light of a 6lb penalty. Testing conditions clearly
hold no terrors for the five-year-old and, even dropping back
slightly in distance under the welter burden of 10st 6lb, it will be
bitterly disappointing if he cannot make it 3-3 under Andrew Mullen.
Unfortunately, Brandon Castle hasn’t escaped the notice of the
bookmakers, but the even money available from Paddy Power in the very
early prices seems fair enough.
Selection: Ayr
4.00 Brandon Castle to win even money
